Johnson, though, was off the field come full-time, a hamstring problem meaning Liverpool finished with 10 men.

City fashioned the first chance on eight minutes when Jovetic’s flick deceived Steven Gerrard but Dzeko dragged his shot wide from 20 yards.

Gerrard responded with a searching long ball for Raheem Sterling inside the area, but the winger’s effort on the turn was harmlessly off target.

Simon Mignolet fielded a trademark long-range Yaya Toure curler, while Allen’s volley from the edge of the area was charged down by Vincent Kompany.

As Liverpool continued to tentatively knock on the door, a fine pass from Sterling released Jordan Henderson inside the area but the midfielder chose to turn back on to his right foot rather than shoot first-time with his left, and the chance was lost.

Daniel Sturridge forced the first real save from City goalkeeper Joe Hart on 33 minutes with a fierce shot and Moreno proved a useful outlet going forward, one sprint down the left flank leaving Samir Nasri in his wake while he troubled City with a pair of driven low crosses.

But the Spaniard was among those at fault as Liverpool conceded a poor opener four minutes before the interval.

A failure to clear properly allowed Pablo Zabaleta the chance to swing in a cross from the right and Jovetic beat the tentative Moreno to Dejan Lovren’s weak header and smashed home from eight yards.

Liverpool were back out for the second half long before City re-emerged, and signalled their intent with a flowing move that ended with Sturridge converting Johnson’s right-wing cross only to have strayed narrowly offside.

A clever dead-ball routine involving Gerrard and Henderson ultimately came to nothing before the Reds fell further behind on 55 minutes to a brilliantly-worked move.

Jovetic’s flick released Nasri down the right, and the Montenegrin advanced unmarked to slot home the return pass.

Liverpool sought a response. Moreno was hounded out after a thrust into the area down the left flank, while debutant Lazar Markovic, on for Philippe Coutinho, fed Sturridge 10 yards out but the ball was scrambled clear.

The Reds striker then drew a smart stop from Hart before mistiming a header from Moreno’s cross.

But the game was over on 69 minutes when, with his first touch, Aguero raced on to a pass from Jesus Navas and capitalised on poor positioning from Mignolet to score.